Lubricating apparatus



Aug 6, 1935. `F. s. BARKs E'r AL LUBRICATING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 13, 1954 l Patented Aug. 6, 1935 UNITED STATES LUBRICATING APPARATUS Frank S. Barks, St. Louis, Alexander P. Fox, University City, and William Z. Linders, Ferguson, Mo., assignors to Lincoln Engineering Company, St. Louis, M'o., a. corporation of Missouri Application October 13, 1934, Serial No. 748,188

3 Claims.

This invention relates to lubricating apparatus,

' and with regard to certain more specific features, to a gun for forcing lubricant under pressure into receiving fittings and the like.

Among'the several objects ofthe invention may be noted the provision of a lubricator hand gun which may beconveniently and quickly guided onto and applied without substantial leakage to successive fittings, and quickly operated to provide a substantially high lubricant pressure, and

which may bequickly removed; the provision of a lubricating gun'of the class described, which has interchangeable nozzles, each particularly adapted for a given class of work but each of which may be operated with equal convenience in its respective class of work; the provision ofv a lubricating gun of the class described which is light and compactenough to be used with one hand, if desired, but not necessarily so, the same carrying a substantial charge of lubricant; and the provision of apparatus of this class which is convenient in form and economical to manufacture. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter. Y

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope ofthe application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in. which are illustrated several of various possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section taken through 85 the apparatus, showing one form` of nozzle;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section of one class of fitting to which the apparatus may be applied;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal section show- I ing an alternative form of nozzle; and,

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the. several views of 1 the drawing.

Referring now more particularlyl to Fig. 1, there is shown at numeral I a barrel-shaped body in which is a main bore 3 for slldably accommodating a plunger 5, said bore 3 having an inlet 1 just ahead of the rearrnost position of said plunger 5. The inlet 1 is covered by the plunger 5 when the latter is forced forwardly. Said inlet 1 widens out and slopes rearwardly and downward` ly, the same being finally formed as an angular cap 9 which is integral with the body portion I.

'angularly located lubricant supply cylinder II.

The cylinder II has a lower cap I3 through which is formed an opening I5. Within the cylinder II is a free piston I1. To load the supply cylinder 5 II, the free piston I1 is forced downwardly against the cap I3, thus covering the opening I5. The cylinder II is then filled and screwed to the cap 9. Upon reciprocation of the plunger 5 and withdrawal of lubricant through the inlet 1, the 10 supply in the cylinder is gradually exhausted and' the piston I1, under atmospheric pressure through opening I5,follows the exhausting supply. f

Rearwardly, the body I is provided with a stal5 tionary grip I9, the latter being held in place on the body. I by means of a threaded bushing 2|. The rear end of the plunger 5 is fastened to a guide stem 23, the latter passing slidably through the opening of said bushing 2I and into a rear- '20 ward counterbore 25.` The counterbore 25- is somewhat larger in diameter than said `guide stem 23. A packing 21 is usedbetween the guide stem 23 and said rearward counterbore 25 to seal against leakage. 25

At its rearward end the guide stem 23 is provided with a movable handle 29 which is similar in shape to vthe stationary handle I9. A spring 3| reacts between the bushing 2| and said movable handle 29. The handles I9 and 29 are of domelike shape. They are so formed that when separated iingersare placed-underthe stationary handle I9, the palm of the hand may be used for pressing inwardly the movable handle 29. This permits of supporting and operating the device with one hand. Of course, if desired, theother hand may aid the operation by gripping the supply chamber II, although this is not necessary. The cylinder II then functions as a convenient grip.

At its forward end, the body I is provided with stepped counterbores 33 and 35, the former accommodating a relatively soft packing 31 and the latter a ball check Valve 39, normally held in seated position by a spring4 4I. The spring 4I reacts against said packing 31.

In the opening at the opposite end of the packing 31 is positioned a cylindric extension 43 of a delivery nipple 45, said nipple having a ange 41 which has a flat face where it engages the packing 31, but which is provided with a beveled portion 49 opposite the packing. The beveled por' tion provides a rocking edge ,Stadapted to cooperate with the inner flat surface of a metal re- 5 taining washer 53 held in place on the end of the body I by means of a threaded sleeve The extension 43, flange 41 and nipple 45 are hollow to form a conduit.

Further details in regard to the rocliing action of the flange 41 on the inner face of the member 53 may be obtained from the United States Patent 1,947,208 of William Z. Linders (see Fig. 3 therein) In general, the edge of the flange 41 clears the bore 33 enough to permit rocking of the edge 5I on said washer 53. There is enough clearance between the hole through the washer 53 and the nipple tip 45 to permit of. this action. It is to be understood that the rocking action is of a magnitude' which, relative to the purpose in hand, is enough to permit of some angularity of the body I with respect to the nipple 45. Since the nipple 45 may rock slightly in the end of the tting 56, the angle of the body I, with respect to the fitting 56, is the sum of the angle of the body I with respect to the nipple 45and that of the nipple 45 with respect to the fitting 55. Hence a smaller nipple angle is required for a given body angle, both measured with respect to the fitting 5B.

The fitting comprises a hexagonal portion 51 back of which is a screw threaded portion 59 for screw connecting the fitting to passages which are to be lubricated. Ahead of the flange 51 extends a cylindric receiving tip 6I, grooved as shown at 63 and provided with an inlet portion 65 which is substantially semi-spherical or convex in form. The groove 63 constitutes a reduced neck portion. An inlet bore 61 communicates with a central counterbore E9, and said counterbore 59 communicates with a rearward and larger bore 1I. A ball check valve 13 seats against the end of the counterbore 69 and is normally held in position by means of a coil spring -15 reacting from an inwardly directed flange 11.

It will be seen that the symmetrical guide sleeve is hollow interiorly and is provided endwise with an inwardly extending ange 1 9. This flange is preferably beveled as at 82 on its inward side. The groove 63 is beveled on its forward side, as shown at numeral 8I and may be beveled at 83, as shown, although the latter bevel is not important. The bevels 8l and 82 cooperate to provide clearance, as will appear.

The clearance between the opening through flange 19 and the base of the spherical portion 55 of the fitting 56 is such as to provide a loose or free, guiding fit. The opening through the flange is substantially equal to the fitting diameter at the bottom of the convex head portion but slightly larger for free clearance. Thus, as the gun is pressed on the fitting 55, the flange 19 effects a guiding action over the portion 65. A nicety of aim in applying the gun to the fitting is not necessary. As the nipple 45 enters the opening 61 in the tting56 a seal is effected and the guiding action of the flange 19 ceases, because said flange 19 comes opposite the groove 63. Hence, thereafter, considerable free rocking of the body I may be effected with respect to the fitting 55 without tend- .ing to loosen the lubricant-tight pressure seal beautoma plying the apparatus for attachment to the ntting and after it has been contacted, the guiding action ceases and permits ample rocking about one center only at the end of the fitting without prying action about some other center, 5

which would loosen the sealing contact. The bevels 8| and 82 cooperate to insure proper clearance between flange 19 and groove 63.

It is to be understood that as the body I rocks (inadvertently) angularity'is effected between the nipple 45 and said body and also angularity is effected between the nipple and' the tting. As above shown, the purpose of allowing the angularity between the nipple and the body is to reduce lthe angularity between ,the nipple and the fitting, with an overall angularity between the body I and fitting 55 which is of the order of that which obtains when a pumping action goes on. The flange 19 and groove 63 takes care of this overall rocking without prying the nipple 45 20 from the opening 61.

In operation, assuming the chamber II to be filled, the operator grasps the separated handles I9 and 29 and applies -the sleeve 55 to the fitting 55, The flange 19 cooperates, rst' with the spherical end 65 of the fitting. Only an approximate alignment is necessary because, as the gun is further pressed to the fitting, the flange 19 rides toward the cylinder 69 over the end 65 and guides the nipple 45 intothe opening 61. After this has occurred, the flange 19 comes opposite the groove 53. The operator then presses the handle 29 toward the handle I9 repeatedly, thus effecting ejection of lubricant from the nipple 45 and into the fitting 56. Any rocking action of the body I, engendered by the pumping action between handles I9 and 29 is provided for without effecting a disconnection between nipple 45 and fitting 55, for the reason above given. As the supply in the chamber II is reduced, the piston I1 follows under atmospheric pressure to maintain a supply at the inlet 1.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the barrel I is alternatively provided'with a threaded sleeve 85 which holds in position a split sleeve 9| having a head'member 81. However, instead of usingthe inwardly eX- tending flange 19 of Fig. 1, the outer end of the sleeve is bored straight for receiving the inner split sleeve 89 whereby the sleeve 89 and said head 81 may be held in place at the end of the body I and spaced around the nipple 45.

The bore through the split sleeve 89 and the outside diameter of said sleeve 85 are arranged, for example, vas follows: 55

Assuming that the outside diameter of the cylindric portion 6I and base of head 65 of the fitting is .249 inch, the sleeve 89 is formed with a bore in its unstrained condition which is .250 inch. The sleeve is then closed in so that its final inside dimension is .249 inch. It is then hardened. This leaves no clearance between the split sleeve 89 and fitting 55. The clearance between the outside diameter of the sleeve 89 and the inside diameter of the sleeve 85 is .G02 im' The result of the above relationship is there is an accurate sliding fit between the s sleeve 39 and the cylindric portion 6I of fitting 55 which effects a' denite alignmenty so that the cylinder I cannot be rocied under any condi- 15 from its position in the receiving onenn .pplication of the gun to fit g action of the split sleeve 59 a fhg, frictional t At the sain.'

there is not so much clearance between the outside of the sleeve 89 and the inside of the sleeve B that a permanent set can be effected in sleeve 89 by repeated application of the device to ttings. That is to say, if a split sleeve were used, without being suitably backed, it would soon take on a permanent set and thereby become loose. If it were tightly backed up there would be no spring at all and the snug application could not, in practice, be brought about in the nrst instance.

While it is not desired that we be limited to the above dimensions, they are given as being exemplary of the proportions desired, The functions to be effected by the proportions are a snug, sliding, frictional fit interiorly betweenthe split sleeve 89 and the tip of the fitting and at the same time a backing of the split sleeve by a .rigidA member 85 at such a distance that some springing may be effected Without the split sleeve taking a Vpermanent set, that is, it cannot be stressed beyond its elastic limit.

The sleeves 55 and 85 and included parts are interchangeable. The sleeve 85 of Fig. 3, which maintains a rigid alignment between fitting and gun, is most. useful in applications Where it is desired to be able to attach a gun to the fitting and have it remain there temporarily while the operator eiects maneuvers. For instance, if the car which is being lubricated isnot jacked up, this form of sleeve is preferable because an attachment to the nipple may be made and then the operators body placed in an advantageous position to effect pumping. Analogous situations will suggest themselves.

The form of the sleeve shown in Fig. 1 is preferable Where the car is raised and the operator can get beneath it, such that application of the gun and a pumping stroke may be made simultaneously but at somewhat various angles with respect to the fitting. The sleeve of Fig. 1 is also somewhat preferable for use with power pumps having flexible outlets reaching up to the ball check 39, instead of the hand pump. This is` because the outlets of power guns are not rigid and it is therefore more diicult to maintain a direct alignment with the fitting. Furthermore, the parts associated with the power coupler and hose are ordinarily so heavy that a sleeve such as shown at Fig. 3 would have an4 undue bending moment applied to it. However, it is not to be understood that the structure of Fig. 3 is not applicable to power guns, because under proper conditions of design it is also useful for the purpose. v

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in carrying out the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above descrip tion or shown in the accompanying drawin* shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. A coupling for connecting a lubricant-supply conduit With a. lubricant-receiving fitting of the form including a bored convex head and a reduced neck portion, said coupling comprising a bored nipple adapted to enter the bore of the fitting to form a seal, the coupling being mounted in the end of the conduit and having a symmetrically positioned surrounding sleeve spaced from said nipple and having an inwardly extending flange at a predetermined distancebeyond the end of the nipple and providing an opening adapted to pass over the head of the fitting and to register with said neck when the seal is effective, whereby the nipple is insured proper entry in the bore of the fitting, and angling is permitted without tendency of prying the nipple from the fitting.

2..A coupling for connecting a lubricant-supply conduit with a lubricant-receiving fitting including a semi-spherical head having a reduced neck portion and a bore therein, said coupling comprising a bored nipple mounted in the delivery end of the conduit and adapted to enter the bore of the tting to form a seal therewith, and a surrounding sleeve spaced from the end of the nipple and having an inwardly extending ange at a predetermined distance beyond the end of' the nipple, said iiange providing an opening adapted to pass loosely over the head of the fitting and being located at said neck when the seal is effective; whereby the nipple is insured proper entry into said bore in the tting, and the flange may project into said neck during angling of the coupling, Without danger of breaking the seal.

3. A coupling for connecting a lubricant-supply conduit with a lubricant-receiving iitting of that general form including a centrally bored round head with a reduced neck portion, said coupling comprising a. bored nipple mounted in the delivery end of the conduit and adapted to enter the bore of the iitting to form a seal therewith, and a symmetrically positioned surrounding sleeve spaced from said nipple and having, at its free end, at a predetermined distance beyond the end of said nipple, an inwardly extending ilange providing an opening substantially 'equal in diameter to the round head of the fitting, and located at said neck when the seal is effective; whereby the nipple is insured proper entry into said bore, and angling of the coupling is permitted while preserving the seal.

FRANK S. BARKS. ALEXANDER P. FOX.

WILLIAM Z. LINDERS. 

